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Melbourne Storm forward Eli Katoa has been officially ruled out the complete 2026 NRL season as he focuses on rehabilitation at home in his home state, after coming back from a extended period in New Zealand where he underwent brain surgery.

What Happened

The 25-year-old athlete suffered three separate head injuries in a single match while playing for Tonga in a international fixture versus the Kiwis. Subsequently, he experienced convulsions while off the field, requiring urgent medical care.

A medical operation to address bleeding on the brain resulted in Katoa hospitalized and temporarily grounded back to Melbourne.

The club announced recently that the forward has now come back and is recovering, having also been briefly admitted to a local medical facility.

“Eli’s health and wellbeing remain our top concern,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski. “We are thrilled to have him home safely and under the supervision of our medical staff and local specialists.”

The Road to Recovery

Rodski noted that the player is improving each day and is looking forward to pursuing his recovery from home.

However, the executive stated that there is no set timeline for his return to health or a comeback to the field.

“In consultation with our medical team and neuro specialists, Katoa won't be back to practice this pre-season and is ruled out for the 2026 season,” he emphasized. “He has a lengthy recovery process in his recovery, and his primary goal will be on returning to full health prior to contemplating a potential comeback to training.”

Rodski concluded by saying that Katoa is a highly valued and respected member of our team and organization, and that the entire club will support him fully and assist him during his rehabilitation period.

Broader Context

The NRL is wrapping up its investigation into the circumstances that led to the required neurosurgery.

The powerful forward, who was selected for the competition’s team of the year at the recent Dally M awards, seemed to sustain a concussion during the warm-up for the Pacific Championship match.

However, he was cleared to participate in the match and endured two more head impacts before being substituted in the later stages.

Katoa’s condition worsened rapidly, and he needed medical oxygen beside the field before being taken off on a medicab.

The league has sought to tackle concerns around head injuries in the game in recent years, implementing stricter enforcement on high tackles and expanding the mandatory recovery time for affected players.